Howdy guys and gals,

Visited my father today and was asking about his model 459. He purchased it off of a friend years ago for $450. I don't think he has ever shot it, and I have not gotten a chance to shoot it yet.

Has the magazine disconnect, stout DA trigger and whatever SA trigger pull. I did notice the reset on the SA trigger is exquisite however.

The serial # is TBU2xxx. Would someone be so good as to ID the year of it's birth?

I did add some paint to the front sight so it can be seen, and did a field strip cleaning and lubrication as the gun was bone dry. I also removed the grips and rubbed them and the frame clean with 90% isopropyl alcohol, then ren waxed the entire frame, grip panels and slide.

Thank you all,
Crh1943

You can request Manufacture date from S&W at

[email protected]

Crh1943, the Standard Catalog of S&W doesn’t list a TBU series of serial nos. For the 9mm metal frame guns, but the TB- something else numbers are shown for 1987-88, so I would guesstimate your father’s pistol came from that period. There was a TAU group in 1987 and TBC and TBL were used both in 1987 and 1988.
As ACEd said, you’ll probably need to contact S&W to pin it down any better.

Froggie

We look forward to a range report soon. The DA trigger is a challenge but the SA pull is very good and you already noticed the amazing reset. Wouldn't be my personal choice for a carry gun but would be great for the home and lots of fun at the range.

I bought a single stack stainless gun from the second generation, a Model 639. I truly believe this is the most durable, and for me best all around 9mm of the classic metal framed series. Your 459 should be a great one to have, both for home defense and range outings. There are several shooting competitions that it fits as well.

Froggie

Thank you all for the replies.

As far as history goes, could anyone tell me how it came about and what was the idea behind it? I get that all were derived from the Model 39, but that is all I know.

Thanks again!

As far as I can tell, the 459 "came about" when S&W went to double stack magazines. Except the M59 had double column magazines, too. so, hmmmm....the only thing I am pretty sure about after poking around is the change from fixed sights to adjustable sights.

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Come and take it!!

The second generation were an update of the model 39-2 and model 59. The second generation pistols were the first to get a firing pin block safety or commonly referred to as a drop safety. The firing pin can only move if the trigger is pulled.

The second generation added a squared off trigger guard, steel frame option like the 559 or stainless steel like the 659. The fully adjustable wing protected rear sight was also an option on the second generation.

Many of these changes were made at the request of Law Enforcement agencies.

The model 59 was introduced to add magazine capacity (14 rounds) to the 9 MM S&W autos to better compete with 13 round Browning High Power/FN P-35.

For someone who learned to shoot double action revolvers the long smooth double action trigger pull wasn’t that bad on the S&W 439/459 pistols. If you had time you can always cock the hammer for a single action precision shot.

If you dropped a model 39/59 on the muzzle on a hard surface without the thumb safety engaged the pistol can fire from inertia. Gravity and sudden impact where the firing pin spring isn’t strong enough to stop the firing pin from striking the primer.

I never felt the firing pin safety adversely affected the second generation trigger pulls and was a worthwhile addition.

I carried all three generations of S&W’s in uniform and plain clothes and thought they made good reliable police pistols.

The great thing about SW 9mm autos is that they go back to the 1950's and there are so many variants collecting them is a challenge.

According to Dwayne Charron, Head of R&D at S&W, in his excellent autobiography "My Life Journey with Smith & Wesson", the magazine capacity of the model 39 was increased at the request of the Navy Seals who carried them in Vietnam.

Hence the model 59 was born.

John

That would be the birth of the "Hush Puppy" I believe.

__________________
Come and take it!!

Then of course there were the short extractor ones requested for “field replacement/repair.”

I’m not sure I’d want to replace an extractor “in the field” but one of our members here confirmed that rumored requirement. (Government & LE.)

I replaced one of the decocker/safeties but still have the original w/o the right side lever and screw.

Jim

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The S&W semiauto pistols were an evolution. The 2nd Gen enhancements were a pretty big deal at the time. The biggest being the debut of “the minigun” 469 and 669 models, a VERY big deal in a compact package. The 2nd Generation was also S&W’s first foray in to .45 ACP in a semiautomatic pistol in the 645 and shortly after, the 745.

The 2nd Generation of the S&W pistol was almost wholly contained within the decade of the 80’s and these guns really fit that style. The hooked trigger guards, the big 645 and it’s association with Miami Vice. These guns are a time capsule.

I’ve got five of the 2nd Gen pistols and each has a safe place in my collection.

I've got three of the 2nd Gen pistols and each has a collection place in my safe!

John

Thanks everyone.

I was able to put 2 mags through it on Sunday. Shot well. Not a fan of how chunky it is or the grip angle. I also found the bore axis to be quite high, but that is a common theme with most hammer fired DA/SA guns.

All in all, it is going back to my Dad and has passed the function test. Glad to have experienced it, but if I want a DA/SA I will stick with revolvers.

Oh, yeah. The Model 59 and 459/559/659 all shared the same basic receiver with just a few changes, the grip not being among the improvements. They do feel a lot like holding a 2x4. The third generation pistols had a far superior grip redesign.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Yes, agree about the 3rd Gen big improvements in fit and feel but I’d like to add that they skillfully removed some metal in the right places which added to the improved fit and feel in the hands. While a 659 and 5906 are “basically” the same design, I have both these guns and it’s an interesting exercise to handle each of them and notice immediately how much they actually put some thought and care in to the improvements in fit and feel.

Even still, and if you know me, you know that I always add this... I still have a big grin on my face after mowing down steel plates with the big gangly old-tech 659.

The 459 was popular with the F.B.I. In the early eighties the Bureau purchased 800 units and they were carried by agents who served on the various field offices SWAT teams. Since the SWAT team was not full time that means those agents also carried the 459 doing day to day case work.

Retired FBI agent Bill Vanderpool wrote a fascinating book called "Guns of the FBI" a few years ago and it's still in print. He writes that some of the agents continued to carry their 459s until the Bureau transitioned to the Glock Model 23 (40S&W) in the late nineties and those agents were ordered to make the switch.

The Hostage Rescue Team started up in the early Eighties and evidently is a full time assignment and is based out of Quantico, Virginia (home of the FBI Academy). That particular unit started out with worked-over Browning Hi-Power pistols and never carried the 459.

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I type. Therefore I am.

Before Glock came around, if you checked the holster of a law enforcement officer for a 9mm semi-auto pistol, you found either a Browning Hi-Power, Beretta 92 or a S&W.

The 2nd gen had design improvements such as additional reinforcement of the frame where the slide stop hole is.

If you compare a 1st and 2nd gen frame, the thicker raised portion of the 1st gen frame stopped just before the slide stop hole, it was extended past the slide stop with the 2nd gen (and carried over to 3rd gens) due to cracks experienced in severe duty.

Grip ergonomics were improved from the 2nd gen by going to the one piece grips which allowed the grip frame to be slimmed down by eliminating back strap. There has been posts on the forum regarding 3rd gen grips being successfully retro fitted to 2nd gen grip frames.

The 459 served many years as duty weapons, I have a 459 and a 559, and still enjoy shooting them, along with my 3rd gens.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

Agreed, my first auto was a brand new 639 in the early 80's; I just bought #5 about a year ago. One thing leads to another and before you know it, you'll have may more members of the 39 family in your safe!